Paying for Tap water at a bar or restaurant

I was out tonight with a few friends, and one ordered TAP WATER (with another drink) at a bar (Papa Benz), and the waitress at the end of the evening tried to charge us 1.50 for the water, even though we did drink alcohol while there. Has this happened to anyone else at other restaurants or bars?
The Bar tried to tell us, because we sat there for over an hour drinking, we took up seats, and that has to be paid for. We did not pay it, and now we want every person we know to NOT go to this place... almost as bad as Joe Penas always over charging on the drink bill.

well you shared their heating and lighting.
they needed to wash the glass, which costs money, waited on you and probably emptied ashtrays etc...

what did you expect..?

come on, wake up and smell the coffee.

The bar was almost empty, and Tap water was not on the menu, and the waitress did not tell us, when DDBug ordered, that you pay for tap water. Mineral water out of the bottle yes, but tap water.

I have never paid in München for tap water at a bar. They are usually very friendly about it and give us water, as we are drinking paid drinks too. Heating and such is a cost of running a bar.

i've never paid for it. most look at me funny, but usually oblige if i order with something else. i always say i am very thankful for the water.
they argue that you`re paying for service cause you do not have to tip. i read years back that that was normal in austria, or rather newly introduced.
btw, never heard of papa benz. any relation to mercedes?

Paying for tap water is ridiculous if you are ordering other food and drink at the table. Drei Gröschenkeller also charges (or at least used to) for tap water, but it's at least on the menu and a nominal price.

it's taken me almost an hour just to get my waitress to come back to the table!

If it's TAP water, that is asking a little too much I think. Out of a bottle, yes you should pay. Maybe there is a reason they weren't busy, or subsequently need to charge you for the hours worth of 'atmosphere' to go along with your tap water.

Well, it was the first time I had ever been charged for tap water, and I always order tap water with my drinks (keeps me from getting too smashed too quickly!). I refused to pay for it. The manager tried this condescending attitude of "you must not go to Schwabing very often then" approach, which almost made me fall off my chair laughing. It was not just charging for tap water, it was also the attitude that went with it - I would rather spend my time and money someplace else.

Papa Benz is on Occamstr, right beside the theater there, the owner also owns Llyodds on Occamstr.

That's odd... when I was out bike riding this summer, I stopped in a place in Schwabing and asked for a glass of water. I offered to pay for it, and the server told me it was illegal to charge for tap water.

In Britain it's certainly illegal to charge for tap water. Don't think it is here though. I've certainly paid for it a couple of times.

I believe that all places have to give out a Leitungswasser for free.

If you just want to tank up on tap water to stop yourself getting drunk so quickly then just go to the toilets and drink the water out of the, er, tap.
I'd like to see anyone charge you for that.

I was under the impression that EU law states tap water is free and have told restaurant staff that in the past. Maybe I'm wrong?

I have done some googling and cant find anything on water having to be free.

Clearly it should be free. If telling them it's the law helps, then I'll keep making it up. Another good one is saying you have medication to swallow and need a glass of water.

i spend a while googling this subject and the closest thing i found to a "gesetz" about this was another forum speculating exactly the same. they came to the conclusion that it is an urban legend.

Doesn't matter whether it's a law or not. I don't go back to places that try and charge me for tap water. Simple.

That was our point, to let people also know not to go to this bar.

This has been an issue where people are maybe taking substances in a club on which they have not paid tax to the government with clubs turning off water mains and people dying as a result. Greedy bastards. I wouldn't go back to any place that tried to charge me. They'll make more money in the long run.

If a place charged me for tap water, I'd give a smaller (or no) tip and not return.